Not everyone will experience the same symptoms or progress at the same rate.

Stage 1:No impairment (normal function) The person does not experience any memory problems. An interview with a medical professional does not show any evidence of symptoms of dementia.

Stage 2: Very mild cognitive decline The person may feel as if he or she is having memory lapses — forgetting familiar words or the location of everyday objects. But no symptoms of dementia can be detected during a medical examination or by friends, family or co-worker

Stage 3: Mild cognitive decline Friends, family or co-workers begin to notice difficulties. During a detailed medical interview, doctors may be able to detect problems in memory or concentration. Common stage 3 difficulties include:

Noticeable problems coming up with the right word or name

Trouble remembering names when introduced to new people

Having noticeably greater difficulty performing tasks in social or work settings Forgetting material that one has just read

Losing or misplacing a valuable object

Increasing trouble with planning or organizing

Stage 4: Moderate cognitive decline (Mild or early-stage Alzheimer’s disease) At this point, a careful medical interview should be able to detect clear-cut symptoms in several areas: